Correct And Authentic Narrativeof The Indian War in Florida by Capt James Barr

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Title: A correct and authentic narrative of the Indian war in Florida
with a description of Maj. Dade's massacre, and an account
of the extreme suffering, for want of provision, of the
army--having been obliged to eat horses' and dogs' flesh,
&c, &c.

Author: Capt. James Barr

Release Date: August 29, 2015 [EBook #49814]

Language: English

Character set encoding: UTF-8

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF THE SEMINOLE ***

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A

CORRECT AND AUTHENTIC

N A R R A T I V E

OF THE

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INDIAN WAR IN FLORIDA,

WITH A

D E S C R I P T I O N

OF

MAJ. DADE’S MASSACRE,

AND AN

ACCOUNT OF THE EXTREME SUFFERING,

FOR WANT OF PROVISIONS, OF THE ARMY—HAVING BEEN

OBLIGED TO EAT HORSES’ AND DOGS’ FLESH, &c. &c.

———

BY CAPT. JAMES BARR.

———

NEW YORK:

J. NARINE, PRINTER, 11 WALL ST.

1836.

NARRATIVE

OF THE

SEMINOLE WAR IN FLORIDA.

IN the beginning of January, 1836, the inhabitants of New Orleans received tidings from Florida of a very alarming and distressing

nature. An able and brave, but unscrupulous chieftain, named Powell, had been for some time suspected of harboring designs to
prevent the removal of the Seminole Indians, beyond the Mississippi, according to treaty. For this or some such cause, Powell was
arrested and thrown into double irons, at Fort King, by General Thompson, the Indian agent. He was soon released: the head chief of
the tribe, Attemottely, (I know not if I spell his name properly) pledging himself that Powell should raise no disturbances. Powell repaid
him with the blackest ingratitude: he was no sooner free from his confinement, than he with a party of his warriors, killed Attemottely,
who was in favor of fulfilling the terms of the treaty, and thus obtained for himself the consequence he now enjoys in the nation. Soon
after this, Dalton, the carrier of the mail from Tampa Bay to Fort King, was murdered, and his body found in the woods a few miles
from Fort Brooke. Next came the murder of the Indian agent, General Thompson, and several of the officers of Fort King. This was
soon followed by the massacre of Major Dade’s command, and the engagement of General Clinch, on the Ouithlacouchy. The houses
of the inhabitants were also burned, their plantations destroyed, their property plundered, and they themselves, were, in many instances
murdered. On receipt of these tidings, the citizens of New Orleans held a meeting, at which it was unanimously resolved to raise a
regiment in defence of their suffering friends in Florida.

Gen. Persifor F. Smith volunteered his services as Colonel, and Mr. Lawson, as Lieut. Colonel: the latter gentleman, the head

physician of the United States, has since proved that the profession of arms is not inconsistent with the duties of a follower of
Æsculapius. The enlistment was commenced on the 24th January, and a body of seven hundred men was quickly raised. The citizens,
with their usual liberality and patriotism, supplied the troops with comfortable quarters, till the 3d of February. Each intervening day the
regiment was inspected in the Custom House yard: on the 2nd February the troops received their uniform, blankets and other
necessaries, and on the 3rd were mustered in the Barrack yard. Louisiana had done her part—she had raised a fine and as was
afterwards proved, an effective body of men. They received their arms, colors and bounty, thirty dollars (the wages were ten dollars
per month) and marched, some that evening, others next morning, to the rail road, where we found the cars in readiness and were soon
embarked on Lake Ponchartrain. Two steamboats, the Watchman and Merchant were chartered to transport us to Tampa Bay, and
the David Brown proceeded to the same point, via the Balise. The Watchman reached Pensacola on the 6th without any adventure
except being detained a few hours on a mud bank. We took in wood and again put off, but the evening looked very dirty and the
vessel was any thing but a good sea boat. Our captain accordingly determined not to go to sea, and lay too, close to the Fort, which is
a few miles below the town. Here we had comfortable quarters for the night, and next morning again embarked. We arrived at Tampa
Bay, on the 9th, and landed on the 10th. The Merchant had been in a day before us, and the David Brown arrived the day after. Here
was a scene well calculated to rouse the spirits of the lukewarm, (if any such were among us). Almost every house in this beautiful spot
had been torn down or burnt, and the inhabitants had been compelled to fly for protection to the vessels in the bay. We bivouacked
outside the Fort, under the boughs of the live oak trees, which are very numerous; the watch-fires at night—the groups of men lying
around them sleeping in their blankets—the stack of arms—the flash reflected from the musket and bayonet of the centinel as he
stalked slowly by the fires; the tout ensemble had a very imposing, and in my eyes, a very military aspect. We were twice alarmed on
the second night; the first time from the accidental discharge of a musket, and the second time from the mistake of a Dutch centinel; he
had been posted on the piquet guard, with orders to hail any thing which should approach and to fire if he received no answer to the
third challenge. Minheer Dutchman heard some noise in the bushes and called three times as he had been ordered, “Who goes dere?”
no answer, “Den I fire.” He did fire, and in an instant, the bugles rang, the drums rattled, and we were soon in a posture to defend
ourselves; but the alarm was groundless, it served only to show that the men were on the alert, it was soon found that a harmless dog
had alarmed the sturdy Dutchman. On the 12th, I received the unwelcome intelligence that my company had been selected to remain in
the Fort, to guard the sick and baggage, and to my great mortification was compelled to march inside the piquets. But I must describe
Fort Brooke. It is situated at the junction of Hillsborough river with Tampa, or rather Hillsborough Bay. The Fort is a triangle, the

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hypothenuse or base of which rests on the sea, in the apex are two block houses, which command two sides, and are fortified with
cannon, on the breeches of which their sorrowing friends have painted the names of Dade, Gardiner and others who fell in the
massacre. The base is commanded by a lunetta, and the whole is surrounded by a strong palisade, with sharp stakes on the top, amply
supplied with loop holes for the musketry, and port holes for the cannon; outside the palisades, there has been dug a number of wolf
traps, with a strong, sharp stake, in the bottom of each on which the enemy must be impaled, if they should succeed in approaching so
near us. There are eighty or ninety volunteers, and eighty regulars and marines, in all about one hundred and sixty fighting men left in
garrison: the whole under command of Major Sandes, a fine soldier looking gentleman of the regulars.

The army marched on the 13th, under command of General Gaines, of the United States army. Each man was supplied with ten

days provisions. There were two battalions, one commanded by Lieut. Colonel Lawson, the other by Major Marks. The regulars,
about four hundred in number, were led by Colonel Twiggs, Major Montfort, and other United States officers. They marched in high
spirits and seemed eager for a brush with the enemy.

I should have mentioned that on the morning previous to our arrival, the friendly Indians had had a skirmish with the hostiles, in

which two of the friendly tribe were wounded, and one named Old John was missing. This skirmish took place within four miles of Fort
Brooke. We found two Indians prisoners within the piquets: they had been taken in a manner which might well grace even the romantic
days of ancient chivalry. A fine looking young Indian, named Yellow Hair, asked in marriage the daughter of Black Dirt, a friendly
chieftain. The old man declared that none, save a warrior, need pretend to his daughter, and desired Yellow Hair if he wished to prove
himself one, to go into the woods and make prisoners of three hostile Seminoles. Yellow Hair accordingly dashed into the forests, and
at three different times brought in a prisoner. Two of them we found chained in the Fort; the third was killed by a centinel, on the
morning of our arrival, in a desperate attempt to escape. He was a large, fierce looking man. His head has been secured and submitted
to skilful craneologists. Yellow Hair of course married his black haired damsel, and a few days after, set out at the head of a party of
his countrymen to act as scout to General Gaines.

When the army had marched, we were a good deal employed in drilling at the small and great guns. Seventeen men were

detached from my company for the artillery, and all lamented their inactive life, while their companions were ranging the wild woods in
search of the foe.

23d.—On this day we had a melancholy duty to perform, viz:—the burial of one of the Louisiana volunteers; and on the day

following we buried two friendly Indians. One of the Indians died a natural death, the other had been missing since the last skirmish
with the hostile tribe, on the 8th inst. He was discovered on the 22d, by some hunters about six miles from Fort Brooke, with two
bullet holes in his body. He died a warrior’s death, and received a warrior’s burial. When the body was laid in the coffin, one of his
tribe placed a small bag beside it, containing his tobacco, ammunition, and other little articles which they suppose needful on the
journey to the “pleasant hunting grounds.” The coffin was borne by the volunteers, preceded by the band, playing the dead march, and
the guard appointed to fire over the grave; the officers of the garrison, with Major Sandes, the commander followed, and the sad
procession was closed by a few men and several women of the tribe. The party halted beneath the flag staff; the flag was lowered half
mast high, the union-jack was flung over the bier, the band struck up and we moved along to his “narrow resting place.” I could not
help observing the control which the Indians possess over their emotions, and for which they are so remarkable. The men, indeed, are
perfect stoics, but the poor women could not resist the voice of nature. Some of them (perhaps his wife and daughter) shed many and
bitter tears, and when the coffin was lowered into the grave, pressed forward to take a last look at what had been so dear to them,
and sobbed loudly and bitterly. When they had indulged their grief for a short time, they were gently removed from the grave, the guard
fired three volleys over the body of the deceased warrior, the band struck up a merry tune and the party dispersed, forgetting most of
them, that there had ever been such a being as old Indian John.

26th—Received two hundred and sixty volunteers from St. Marks, under the gallant Major Reed. He was too independent to

place himself under United States officers, but encamped on the other side of the river Hillsborough.

29th—Buried another Louisiana volunteer, named Gray. On his arrival at Tampa Bay, he had become extremely ill, and was left

behind on the sick list, when General Gaines marched; soon after, his malady turned to madness, which was, I fear, confirmed by the
treatment he received. Instead of being properly attended to, he was chained by the leg, outside the Fort, with nothing whatever to
shade him from the burning sun. He was kept in this state several days; he was at length admitted into the hospital, but it was too late;
he died soon after. Poor fellow! He perished far from his friends and home, the victim of the grossest negligence and brutality. Such
conduct in the medical department should not be overlooked.

March 5th—Alabama volunteers arrived, and the day after another company from Louisiana; the whole amounting to twelve

hundred men, was commanded by Colonel Lindsay.

9 h—News was brought in early in the night, that a party of the enemy was driving away cattle in the neighborhood. Major Reed

crossed the river with his command, at midnight, and was fired on, happily without effect, by our piquet guard, who knew nothing of
his movements. About six o’clock, A. M. he came up with a small party of Indians, fast asleep. Their dogs quickly roused them, and
they themselves, when they saw the white skins rushing on, threw away their rifles, blankets, and other incumbrances, and jumped into
a river close by, where four or five of them were shot. Major Reed returned at twelve o’clock, bringing with him a number of mess
pans and spades, also several ponies and blankets which they had left behind in their haste. He reported that there was a large quantity
of camp kettles, spades, &c., on the ground. A party was immediately sent for them with a team and brought them in before night.
They had been buried by General Gaines army sometime before, and were discovered and dug up by the Indians. We christened this
skirmish the battle of the Messpans.

13th—Buried a volunteer from Alabama, a fine young man. Colonel Lindsay refused to allow him a glass of wine, from the

sutler’s store, though ordered by the doctor, a few hours before his death. This was carrying his ideas of temperance a little too far.
We also buried one of the friendly Indians, who had been killed in a drunken fray the day before. The camp of the friendly tribe is on
the other side of the river. Two Spaniards have been for some time supplying them with liquor, and they have been more than a week
in a state of beastly intoxication. I paid them a visit yesterday, and saw among other curiosities a fine young squaw with her nose and
ears cropped off. I inquired the reason of an old white lady, who lived close by, and learned that it is a summary mode of proceeding

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with those errant damsels, who are convicted of being too philanthropic.

An Indian chief who had gone out with General Gaines, arrived to day, bringing news from the army, and on the day following

Black Dirt also arrived. The latter chief, though now the firm friend, was at one time the inveterate enemy of the whites. I have been
informed that he once fought hand to hand with General Jackson, and was left for dead by the hero of New Orleans. He wears a
turban composed of five handkerchiefs, and declares that each handkerchief shall cost Powell one hundred dollars. I should have
mentioned that Powell has set a price on his head, offering five hundred dollars to any one who shall carry it to him.

15th—Colonel Lindsay’s command, amounting to one thousand two hundred men, including Major Reed’s party, marched

before breakfast. Early in the morning some of the volunteers cropped the tail and mane of the Colonel’s horse, and burned the
Colonel himself in effigy. His whole army was enraged with him, for forbidding the Sutler to sell them a glass of liquor of any kind. His
horse (which he had previously selected, from a large number,) he was forced to exchange with one of his officers amid the hooting
and groaning of the troops. A party of marines from the frigate Constellation, eighty in number, accompanied him as a life guard.

16th—Buried two volunteers, one from Tuscaloosa, the other from Louisiana, and on the following day another from Alabama.

We have a great number of sick in the Fort. Among them is one of the men who escaped the massacre of Major Dade’s command.
His account of the affair is this:

Major Dade set out from Fort Brooke on the 23d December, 1835, for Camp King, distant one hundred and ten miles, at the

head of a party consisting of one hundred and ten non-commissioned officers and privates, and six commissioned officers, besides
myself; among them was one medical gentleman. They took with them one waggon, drawn by horses, one six pounder, and an ox
team; the latter obliged them to travel slowly. They encamped the first night, on the Little Hillsborough, seven miles from the Fort. Next
day they crossed the Big Hillsborough, afterwards the Little, and by Ouithlacouchy rivers, and on the night of the 27th, camped near a
pond called the Clayhole. Each night they raised a small breastwork round their little camp. The ill fated party breakfasted on the
morning of the 28th before sunrise, and pursued their journey; the road lying along the margin of the pond. They reached the extreme
end without any interruption. On one side was a large forest of pine trees, on the other was the pond. Some of the party had passed
round its head when they were alarmed by the report of a rifle, and immediately after a musket was discharged by one of the soldiers.
The party halted, and Mr. Clarke (my informant) looked earnestly at the Major, expecting some command. A volley was here poured
on them by their unseen foe; the Major was in the act of turning when he and his horse fell completely perforated with balls. Captain
Frazer, Lieutenant Mudge, and the advanced guard fell at the same time. The soldiers were completely taken by surprise; some were
so much flustered that they fired in the air, but after a few shots they became cool enough. The six pounder was now brought up and
discharged two or three times, when the army fled in all directions. Several hundreds of them were seen collected on a mound, a mile
and a half from the scene of action. This gave the troops some breathing time; they commenced throwing up a breastwork, but were
not allowed to complete it. In about three quarters of an hour the Indians moved from the knoll, and collected a half a mile off. They
then advanced coolly and deliberately to a second attack. Captain Gardiner took the command within the breastwork; the men lay
down to load and kept up a constant fire until three o’clock, P. M.; but their ranks were sadly thinned. Captain Gardiner had fallen
covered with wounds; Lieutenant Keys had both arms broken; Lieutenant Henderson had his left arm broken, but loaded and fired
forty rounds afterwards, and Lieutenant Bassinger was also severely wounded. Mr. Clarke observed Dr. Gatlin, as the Indians
advanced to the second attack, posted behind a log, with two double barrelled guns beside him. He heard the doctor say he had four
barrels for them. Mr. C. saw no more of him till he was creeping out at night, when he passed by the corpse of the doctor, stripped
quite naked. Towards the close of the fight, Mr. C. received a severe wound in the shoulder; he had been previously shot in the thigh,
arm and back, and one buckshot had grazed his temple. The last bullet from a musket entered his shoulder and passed out through his
back, rendering him completely hors de combat. The fire soon after ceased; all inside the breastwork were either killed or severely
wounded. The Indians broke in, and, strange to say, neither scalped the dead nor abused the wounded. They contented themselves
with pillaging all of their arms, ammunition and provisions. When they had quit the field, a body of negroes fifty or sixty in number,
came up on horseback, entered the enclosure, and commenced hacking and cutting the wounded, in a most savage manner. They
approached Lieutenant Bassinger, he sprang on his feet and begged them to spare his life, but they knew not the voice of mercy; they
struck him down with a tomahawk, cut open his breast and tore out his heart and lungs. They proceeded in the same brutal manner
with the rest of the wounded, stripping them all of their clothes. At length they approached Mr. C. and stripped off his jacket, in the
pocket of which he had one hundred and twenty dollars; they also took off his hat and boots and felt for his watch. One of the ruffians
remarked that he was alive and proposed to drive a bayonet through him but was overruled by one of his comrades, who observed
that the wound in his head would certainly kill him, and that they should let him suffer as much pain as possible before death. This
saved him. The negroes soon departed laden with plunder. The poor fellow lay on his face for some time; at length he felt a hand on his
shoulder, and one of his comrades having ascertained that he was still alive, proposed to him to set out immediately; he refused, stating
that it was too soon. The other left him and had not crept many yards when an Indian stepped from behind a log and shot him. A dark
cloud and a rain storm came on; this was a moment too favorable to be lost. Mr. C. crept cautiously into the wood and met another
comrade attempting his escape; they travelled together. Next morning they perceived an Indian in pursuit, gaining very fast on them.
They immediately separated, entering the woods, the one on the right, the other on the left hand. The Indian pursued and killed one,
and returned in search of the other, who had concealed himself in some thick palmettoes. He approached so near that he made the
bushes rustle over his intended victim; but he soon abandoned the search and returned to the Black Swamp, the home of his people.
Mr. Clarke travelled slowly to Fort Brooke, which he reached in three days. The distance from the battle field is sixty five miles. He
was forced to creep on his hands and knees nearly two thirds of the way. One of his comrades, named Thomas, had arrived the day
before, wounded in the thigh. Another named Sprague, came in the day after, wounded in the arm, and these three were the only
survivors of one hundred and seventeen men. A small dog of Captain Gardiner’s also arrived wounded in the neck. Black Dirt had
predicted the state of the party previous to its march from Fort Brooke, and advised them not to go; but Major Dade treated the
matter lightly; he had no apprehensions, and the event unfortunately proved that the prediction of the Indian was but too correct.

21st.—Colonel Lindsay returned with a part of his command to obtain provisions. He had only been twenty-one miles distant

from us on the Big Hillsboro’ River, where he had built a Fort, called Fort Alabama, somewhat similar to Fort Brooke. A few days

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before, he had dispatched a man named Evans, to Fort King, with letters for the main army, and had promised him a handsome
reward, if he should succeed in escaping the vigilence of the enemy. Evans was well mounted, he passed by their main body asleep at
night, and soon after fell in with a drove of their ponies; his horse neighed, the Indians’ dogs barked, and they themselves were soon on
the qui vive—Evans perceived that he was surrounded, and determined to return by the way he came; he accordingly charged back,
and was fired on from all sides without injury to himself or horse, though the Indians killed several of their own ponies which were
close by.

Colonel Lindsay returned, the day following, to Fort Alabama, whence his intention was to march towards Gen. Gaines’ army.
26th.—A Cutter arrived from St. Marks, with several officers from Gen. Gaines’ army, confirming the accounts we had

previously received by the seven days skirmish with the enemy, and the distress of the army for provisions. Gen. Gaines had
proceeded to New Orleans.

27th.—Two non-commissioned officers of the Fort, assistant Commissary Sergeants, Turner and Sunderland, with two citizens,

Messrs. Simmonds and Stewart rode out, after dinner on horseback. They had been but a short time gone, when we heard the reports
of several rifles and two or three distinct yells. In a few minutes after we saw one of them, Mr. Turner, come in at full gallop, and a
horse without his rider close behind. Mr. Turner informed he had been fired on by the Indians one mile from the Fort, and that the
other three had been killed. He himself had received a bullet through his cap. A party was immediately formed, and marched towards
the place of ambuscade; on the road they met Mr. Sunderland with his right arm broken and Mr. Simmonds shot through the back.
Both their horses had been shot, but luckily carried their riders two hundred yards or more, Mr. Simmonds’ horse fell on him, but in
the death plunge left him at liberty. Mr. Sunderland’s horse had fallen, thrown his rider and made for his stable, but dropped dead
before he reached it. Mr. Stewart, the fourth of the party was found dead and scalped; some of his clothes had been stripped off, and
his body and face were covered with wounds from bullets and knives. The savages had dragged him fifty yards from the road and left
him beside a tree, but a faithful dog had remained close to him, and when the poor creature saw the troops, it ran out and conducted
them to its unfortunate master. The body was carried into the Fort, a shocking spectacle. The bullet was extracted from Mr.
Simmonds’ shoulder without doing any injury, but Mr. Sunderland lost his right arm. The operation was performed next day, at his
own request; he bore it with the resolution of a man and a Soldier. Next day a scouting party marched out and scoured the adjacent
hammocks, but we saw nothing except the tracks and fires of the Indians.

April 4th.—Colonel Lindsay and Major Reed, returned with their respective commands, much distressed for want of provisions.

On their march from Fort Brooke, they had lost one private of Capt. H. S. Marks’ company, raised partly in New Orleans, partly in
Mobile. He was killed and scalped six miles from the Fort. Capt. H. S. Marks who, by the by, has used his company scandalously,
had been left to garrison Fort Alabama, and the Colonel proceeded in search of the enemy. At one day’s march from the Fort, he met
them and skirmished for three or four days; he also burnt several villages and had a few men killed and wounded; some of his friendly
Indians killed and scalped an old Chief named Kifixo:—He had on a coat pierced with fourteen bullet holes and nearly covered with
old clotted blood. It was taken from one of Major Dade’s soldiers. The Colonel’s tardy motions by no means suited the bold
disposition of Major Reed. The men too, accused the Colonel of avoiding the larger hammocks, where the enemy would naturally
conceal themselves; whereas, the Major was for charging through them. Major Reed appears perfectly qualified for this species of
warfare. He was constantly at the head of his men; and the first to face any danger. He was present at the battle of Ouithlacouchy,
under Gen. Clinch where he was wounded in the hip and had his horse shot under him. Had all the officers been like him, the manes of
Major Dades’ murdered Soldiers might have been long since satisfied. The report of Gen Scott’s cannon on the Ouithlacouchy were
heard by Colonel Lindsay’s army, and Major Reed advised an immediate advance to his assistance, but the Colonel’s timidity or
imbecility would not allow it, in consequence of which the gallant Major declared he would neither camp with him, march with him, nor
follow him, and he kept his word.

Fort Alabama had been meanwhile attacked and gallantly defended by Capt. H. S. Marks’ Company. Capt. M. Costa second

man here. The Indians kept up a fire with little intermission for more than two hours, some of them climbing the trees and thence
pouring in their volleys, one of them in particular had sheltered himself behind a thick bough and was fired at repeatedly, at each
unsuccessful shot he shook his leg at the Fort, and was heard to crow like a rooster. He was, however, brought down by a rifle; and
fell about thirty feet. Another contrived to conceal himself behind a tree, within one hundred yards of the Fort, and fired a few shots,
but he soon attracted the notice of all eyes, and whenever his arm or any part of his clothing appeared, more bullets whistled by him,
than would have let out the lives of half his tribe. At length he made a tremendous bound and escaped. It was supposed that he was
wounded, as he fell three times, but he appeared like the giant of old, to gain new vigour from each contact with the earth. The tree
behind which he stood and the logs of which the fort was built, were completely covered with ball holes; after two hours firing, the
Indians retired, carrying with them their dead and wounded.

April 4th.—Colonel Lindsay and Major Reed, returned to Fort Brook and camped, giving each other a wide berth. On the

following day Gen. Eustace arrived with a large body of horse from Georgia and South Carolina. Gen. Scott also arrived with the army
which had marched out under Gen. Gaines. He encamped on the other side the river, for the sake of water, and our friends soon
gratified our curiosity, by giving us an account of their campaign. They had marched on the 13th Feb. from Tampa under command of
Gen. Gaines. There were about seven hundred Volunteers from Louisiana, and four hundred Regulars, each man was supplied with ten
days provisions; one half was carried in the knapsacks, the other on the pack-horses. There were no field pieces, no baggage
waggons, and there were no means provided for carrying the sick or wounded. At some miles distance, they passed by the ruined
plantations of Mr. Simmonds and others, who had either been murdered or had barely escaped with their lives to Fort Brooke. They
encamped one night near the Alafaiah (yellow fire) river, where they received a boatload of provisions from Fort Brooke, sent back
several of the sick. On the 17th, they forded the Hillsboro’ river, the bridge having been burnt down by the enemy, to prevent any
communication with Fort King; this was the case with all the other bridges. The greatest credit is due to Colonel Twiggs and Major
Montfort, for the very efficient personal assistance they rendered in the passage of the rivers. 18th.—They burned an Indian Village,
having first obtained from it a large quantity of Corn, Rice and Cooking Utensils. They crossed the Ouithlacouchy, on the 19th, and
spent the night round Major Dade’s last camp; on the morning of the 20th, they marched on, and soon reached the scene of his

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unfortunate massacre. Here a spectacle never to be forgotten, was presented to their eyes; the bodies of more than one hundred men
lay within and around the breastwork, shot, most of them, through the head, many gashed and brutally mangled; they appeared not to
have been disturbed since the battle, or rather the massacre; the oxen lay within the breastwork, still yoked together as they had been
shot down, one soldier lay dead in the cart, the gun-carriage and horse waggon had been burned, and the piece itself carried off and
concealed. The army halted and buried the whole command with the honours of war. On the persons of the dead were found several
hundred dollars, which was handed over to the Commanding Officer to be conveyed to their widows and orphan children. The arms
and ammunition had been carried off by the enemy. The field piece was afterwards discovered sunk in a pond a few hundred yards
distant. It was raised and placed at the head of the Officer’s grave. After this melancholy duty, they crossed the Ouithlacouchy, and on
the 23d, reached Camp King, much fatigued and in great want of provisions. Fort King was garrisoned by sixty Regulars, who had
only heard of Major Dade’s massacre a few days before. Gen. Gaines encamped on a hill close to the Fort, and on the following
morning despatched the pack horses and three companies of Regulars for provisions, to Fort Drane, twenty-four miles distant. They
returned with scarce eight days provisions; these were issued, and orders given to prepare for a march.

27th—The army again moved on with one baggage waggon, one six pounder, and two carts. They marched ten miles and halted

for the night. Next morning the bugles sounded forward, and at one o’clock, P. M., they again sounded for a halt. The army was now
within three miles of the Ouithlacouchy, and close to General Clinch’s battle ground. The previous night had been very wet, and the
halt was ordered for an inspection of arms. On their advance they burned a large village called Powelltown, formerly the head quarters
of the nation, and a little farther on, halted at Clinch’s battle ground. While burying some of his dead who had been disinterred and
abused by the savages, the left wing was attacked, the enemy firing from the other side of the river. Their fire was warmly answered for
three quarters of an hour, when the bugles sounded a retreat from the banks of the river. One man was killed on our side and six
wounded; the loss of the enemy is not known. A breastwork was thrown up, during the night, round that of General Clinch. Next
morning the troops marched down the river, in search of a fording place, in order to cross over and come at close quarters, with the
enemy. The advanced guard reached the bank and received an unexpected volley while attempting to sound the stream. Here fell
Major Izard, the commander of the advance, an officer universally respected and esteemed; he was on horseback, a fair mark for the
Indians, and received a bullet through his head. There was one man besides the Major killed, and there were several wounded; among
the latter were Captain Saunders, chief of the friendly Indians, the main guide, and Captain Armstrong, of the United States schooner
Motto. As it was impossible to ford the stream in the face of the enemy’s fire, independent of its depth, the General took measures for
building a bridge. Some of the men were employed felling pine trees, others hollowing them canoe fashion, while a third party kept the
Indians in play. Towards night all hands commenced a breastwork a few yards from the river, and lay, I shall not say, slept within
them.

March 1st—A party of one hundred and fifty men was sent out to skirmish, while the main body was employed preparing the

bridge. They crept silently down the river, keeping a sharp lookout, each man posted behind a tree or log. About eleven o’clock, A.
M., an attack was commenced by the Indians from the other side of the river, and in a few minutes from all sides. They had crossed in
two large bodies above and below the camping ground, and poured in a volley from all quarters. The fire was answered by the army,
and the six pounder was used on the side the enemy appeared to me strongest. At one time they set the woods on fire to windward,
expecting to burn down the breastwork, and conceal themselves behind the smoke, but they were disappointed, when the fire caught
the breastwork, it was quickly extinguished by throwing water and sand on it, and the grape and canister from the field piece soon
routed them from their lurking places; the wind too shifted suddenly and the smoke was driven back on themselves. After an
engagement of two hours and three quarters they were forced to retreat. The loss in killed and wounded was considerable. General
Gaines himself was wounded in the mouth.

On the previous night he had despatched ten men on horseback to Fort Drane, with an express to General Clinch, stating that the

provisions were nearly exhausted, and requesting a reinforcement, as he found the Indians too numerous.

On the night of the 1st March, another express was forwarded to the same purpose, with a report of the killed and wounded; the

breastworks were raised one log higher.

On the morning of the 2d March the enemy commenced a dropping fire from small parties, which obliged our men to keep within

the breastwork, as the ammunition was nearly exhausted, and they could not afford to throw away a single shot. At night the Indians lit
large fires around the camp and kept a strict look out. This game continued eight days. The troops were totally destitute of provisions,
during the last four days, and were forced to subsist on horses, dogs and roots; the rations even of these, were so small, that some of
the men cleaned the very guts and devoured them; the hind quarter of a dog sold for five dollars, and a single biscuit was purchased at
the same price. A third express was dispatched to Fort Drane for provisions and reinforcements; all three arrived safe.

On the night of the 8th, a stentorian voice was heard outside the breastwork, stating that the Indians were tired of fighting, and

were desirous of a treaty. The herald asked if a flag of truce would be respected, and on being answered in the affirmative, promised
to return in the morning, with provisions and other necessaries for a “dog feast.” He returned in a half an hour saying that the chiefs
would come in on the following morning, at nine o’clock, and requested the General to allow no work on that day.

9th—The chiefs, according to promise, came at the appointed time; Powell, Alligator, Jumper and the interpreter, who was also

the herald of the preceding night, a very tall negro, rejoicing in the name of Dr. Johnston. The Indians, about five hundred in number,
were paraded a short distance in rear of the camp; the chiefs approached within one hundred and fifty yards, and requested an equal
number of our people to meet them for a talk. Adjutant Barron with the Interpreter and other officers went out and parleyed with them
for an hour and a half. One of the chiefs asked the Adjutant if he was not hungry, and received an answer far from the truth, with this
addition, that there was plenty of provisions within the breastwork. The chiefs rose and promised to return in the evening with a
decisive answer, at the same time requesting General Gaines to give them some brandy and tobacco. He told them that the last of the
brandy had been served out that morning, and, to save appearances, supplied them with some tobacco by levying a contribution on the
army. At four o’clock, P. M., they again made their appearance and asked a longer time to deliberate, but General Gaines would not
consent. They were still talking and about to come to terms, when General Clinch made his appearance with five hundred men. Jumper
saw him arrive, and noticed it to our officers. He then ordered his men to retreat across the river immediately, and promised to return

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next morning. General Clinch, seeing the Indians retreat, and not knowing their object, fired on them with little effect, but our officers
soon explained to him the state of affairs.

He brought with him two hundred horsemen, three hundred foot, one sixpounder, five or six carts, and better still, two days

provisions, besides live stock. At night, the sable ambassador, Doctor Johnston again made his appearance, requesting a truce of three
days, as Powell had gone away to see his wife and collect his warriors. General Gaines replied that if the enemy would not come in
and surrender their arms on the following morning, he himself would cross the river and attack them. [Exit, Dr. Johnston.]

10th—Ten o’clock came but no Indians. The troops remained a few days longer in this encampment, which was called Camp

Izard, from the death of the Major, and subsequently Camp Misery, from the sufferings of the people. At the expiration of a few days
they marched with Clinch’s command to Fort Drane where they halted several days, recruiting after their fatigues. The post occupied
by the regulars was called Camp Twiggs, that held by the volunteers Camp Smith. The men complain heavily of the commissary who
had the conscience to sell them their own biscuit at the exhorbitant price of ten dollars per barrel. Previous to this, while Corporal Dyre
of the Louisiana Greys, he had sold the provisions of the company, to Mr. Simmonds of Tampa Bay, to pay for his own board and
that of a few friends; and the coffee and sugar belonging to the company, he had appropriated to himself and the commissioned
officers, who neither drew nor bought provisions. He was afterwards obliged to refund the bread and pork. This is but a small
specimen of the man: I need mention no more.

General Gaines left the army at Fort Drane, on account of some misunderstanding between him and Scott. Scott had been lying

for some time at Picolata, and it was believed, might have materially assisted in preventing the sufferings of the troops; but, obeying the
dictates of envy and jealousy, he said that as Gen. Gaines had got himself into his present difficulties, he might extricate himself from
them. Such language, if true, cannot be too severely censured.

24th—The army marched from Fort Drane, under command of Gen. Scott, increased by the junction of his troops and those of

General Clinch, to two thousand five hundred men.

On the night of the 26th, one of the carts which had dropped a few miles behind was attacked and robbed by the Indians, who

killed one negro, and cut his throat from ear to ear. Another colored man brought in the news, barely escaping with his life. His horse
was wounded, and a bullet had passed through the skirt of his coat.

28th.—They reached Camp Izard and fired the field piece, as a signal for Gen. Eustace and Colonel Lindsay: it was not

answered by either, but was soon responded to by the Indians’ rifles from the opposite bank of the river, giving notice that their “voice
was still for war.” An encampment was formed, and preparations made for constructing a bridge; the work was continued through the
night. In the morning orders were issued for a march. The Ouithlacouchy, here thirty-five yards wide, was crossed, the troops and
waggons passing over in two flat boats, built by Gen. Clinch for the purpose, at Fort Drane, and drawn to the river on wheels. The
Louisiana Volunteers with a small party of Regulars, were the first to cross the river. A breastwork was constructed without any
molestation from the Indians. In the evening they fired on the rear while crossing the river; but the two field pieces, which were placed
on the banks to cover the passage, were quickly brought to bear on them, and soon sent them to the right about. They continued,
however, to fire a few dropping shots from a considerable distance, which did no mischief. On the 30th, the army reached the Black
Swamp, the great hiding place of the Savages, and no place could be better chosen for such a purpose. It is nearly twelve miles
square, and is full of ponds, rivers and hammocks. A halt was ordered, and a detail of three hundred men, was left to guard the
baggage. The main body advanced into the Swamp, in pursuit of the enemy, who had been already seen. They had not marched far,
when they gave chase to two Indians, and pressed them so hard, that they were forced to throw away their packs, and escape with
their rifles only. The troops marched six miles into the Swamp, carrying with them nothing except one day’s rations. They surrounded
and scoured the hammocks on the way, and encamped towards evening. Soon after, several Indians were observed at a short distance
from the camp, making signs for some of our people to go out and talk with them. The Interpreter and a few friendly Indians were sent
for the purpose. The enemy begged a peace, requesting General Scott to remain quiet for a few days, until the return of Powell from
the Gulf of Mexico. The General would not listen to the proposal, but marched the next morning (31st,) and attacked them in their
hammock, whilst preparing breakfast. They fled precipitately, abandoning their provisions, which were speedily devoured by the
almost starving troops. The pursuit was continued, firing occasionally as the Indians appeared crossing from one hammock to another,
until at length after wading a pond three feet deep, the army came to a hammock thicker than the rest, where the enemy had halted,
thinking themselves more secure, and from which they poured a well directed volley on our men. The fire was answered from the
whole battalion. The regulars were ordered to charge into the hammock, hut evinced very little willingness to obey. The order was then
given to the Louisiana Volunteers; they rushed in like so many wolves, disregarding every obstacle, and pursued the enemy to the
banks of the river, following them by the blood which had flowed in streams. No Indians were seen on the banks, and the Volunteers
returned to the main body, at the recall of the bugle. This skirmish cost them four men killed and many wounded. The enemy’s loss
was not known, as they are very careful in carrying off their dead and wounded. The usual signal gun was fired by the baggage guard,
and was answered by General Eustace and Colonel Lindsay, at a great distance. The main body returned to the baggage, carrying with
them their dead and wounded. The dead were buried on the same day with the honours of war.

April 1st.—Provisions being nearly out, General Scott ordered a march towards Fort Brooke, along the borders of the Swamp,

burning and destroying all the Villages on the way. On the morning of the 2d, they made an early start, and at 10 o’clock, left three
hundred and fifty men, composed of the Georgia Volunteers, to build and garrison a Fort, called Fort Cooper. They were supplied
with one six pounder, and nineteen days’ provisions. This post was afterwards attacked fifteen days successively, and sustained but
little loss. The General made a forced march, and at night occupied the vacant breastwork built by Colonel Lindsay a few days before.

3d.—The advanced Guard, the Georgia Volunteer Cavalry, discovered some Indians in a prairie, and instead of attacking them,

returned and applied for the assistance of the Louisiana Volunteers, which gave them (the Louisiana Volunteers) the trouble of charging
through a large hammock, without the satisfaction of seeing a single Indian.

Next day, after a fatiguing march, they arrived at Tampa Bay, and camped a few miles from Fort Brooke, on the other side of the

river. The men looked very different from the gay, gallant set of fellows who had marched away three months before, their clothes
were torn, their shoes worn out, and they themselves were thin and dirty. General Scott gave them the highest praise, and promised to

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send them home direct from Tampa. 8th.—An order was issued, that my company which had remained in garrison, should return to
the Louisiana Volunteers. We immediately crossed the river, and were once more with our regiment. On the morning of the 9th, an
Indian prisoner was brought to Fort Brooke by one of the Revenue Cutters. He had been taken in the following manner: some days
before a party of seamen, commanded by Lieutenant Powell, had been dispatched from the Sloop of War Vandalia, to Charlotte’s
harbour, in consequence of some outrages committed by the Indians in that quarter. The seamen had built a Fort large enough to
accommodate themselves and the families of several Spanish fishermen. The Collector of Customs had been murdered a short time
before by the Indians, and the Spaniards were much alarmed. The prisoner was the particular object of their terror and aversion. He
was known to be a determined fellow, was a suspected accomplice in the Custom house Officer’s murder, and had sworn vengeance
against several of the Spaniards. His sister, (a reputed prophetess,) was married to one of them. Lieutenant Powell went with his party
to a house at night, and demanded admittance; some one within, shouted Hallo! and immediately after the door was opened, and out
rushed three Indians. Two of them were shot down, and three sailors seized the third, but he made a desperate struggle, and
succeeded in escaping: the men might have killed him, but the orders were to take him alive. His retreat, a well chosen one, was
discovered a few days after:—A tree grew on the outer end of a sand bar, which was covered with water at flood tide; the tree was
then a mile from the shore, and the water was scarce a foot deep. The Indian had rigged a very convenient sleeping place for himself,
among the boughs, whence he would observe every thing passing around, with very little danger of discovery. He was, however,
watched by the Spaniards, who dreaded him, his retreat was reported to Lieutenant Powell, and he himself was seized, whilst asleep,
and conducted to Tampa Bay. He reported that there were a considerable number of Indians, besides Negroes, and a large quantity of
ammunition, in the neighbourhood of Charlotte’s harbour, and declared his readiness to conduct a party to the spot, stipulating, that he
should afterwards recover his freedom. General Smith, immediately volunteered the services of himself and Regiment; his offer was
accepted, and on Sunday the 10th, we embarked in the brigantine Calvin and the Schooner Cumberland, for Charlotte’s harbour,
distant seventy or eighty miles. We had light winds, and were not landed till the Sunday following. Five days’ rations of provisions were
then issued, and orders given for a march on the following day. The men were much dissatisfied: their clothes and shoes were worn
out, their feet blistered, and General Scott, having first expressed his perfect satisfaction at their conduct, had promised to them, home
direct from Tampa Bay. A statement to this effect was sent in to General Smith, on the evening previous to our march; but was not
noticed. Next morning (18th,) we started with five days’ provisions, and marched seven or eight miles. The day was very hot, and the
men dropped behind in considerable numbers. We halted at 12 o’clock, and the General gave orders, that all who chose to go
forward, should step on in front, and that the others should return to our camping groun...